Combination golf putting aid and divot repairer

ABSTRACT

A device for aligning a putt on a golf putting green that is formed of a relatively flat material and that includes a base portion to which a sighting rod is integrally joined at right angles thereto, a leveling element being fixed to the base portion and in alignment with said sighting rod and being operable to locate the sighting rod in a plumb vertical position, wherein viewing of the vertically located sighting rod in alignment with a golf ball on the putting green and in the direction of a cup in the green, determines the line on which the ball must be directed to said cup, said base portion further having legs joined thereto that cooperate at the outermost end thereof to provide means for repairing divots and spike marks on said green.

Unite States atet Howe [ 1 Mar. 11, 1975 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or FirmSalter & Michaelson [57] ABSTRACT A device for aligning a putt on a golf putting green that is formed of a relatively flat material and that includes a base portion to which a sighting rod is integrally joined at right angles thereto, a leveling element being fixed to the base portion and in alignment with said sighting rod and being operable to locate the sighting rod in a plumb vertical position, wherein viewing of the vertically located sighting rod in alignment with a golf ball on the putting green and in the direction of a cup in the green, determines the line on which the ball must be directed to said cup, said base portion further having legs joined thereto that cooperate at the outermost end thereof to provide means for repairing divots and spike marks on said green.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures COMBINATION GOLF PUTTING AID AND DIVOT REPAIRER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device that is held by a player in his hand for aligning a putt on a golf putting green and that is further usable to repair divots on the green.

Aids for aligning a putt on a golf putting green have been used heretofore with some varying degrees of success; but in practically all of these prior-known devices some skill in manipulation thereof was required and, more often than not, the information obtained did not accurately indicate the proper direction or line on which the ball had to be directed to the cup in the green. Accordingly, most of these prior known devices have not found significant favor in the use thereof by golfers and after a brief period of use were usually discarded.

One of the techniques that has been used with some degree of success in aligning a putt on a putting green is the so-called plumb-bob system, wherein the player aligns the shaft of his putter with the ball on the green, while allowing the putter to be suspended in a generally vertical direction. Although this so-called plumb-bob system had some merit in its application, its success in use depended on the player adjusting his position in accordance with the terrain on which he was standing. Thus, unless the player compensated for inclinations or angles of the green on which he was standing, the plumb-bob system could not be depended upon -to accurately reflect the line on which the ball had to be directed to the cup in the green.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device formed of relatively flat stock for aligning a putt on a golf putting green and includes a base portion to which an elongated sighting rod is integrally joined that is located in coplanar relation therewith. The sighting rod extends outwardly from the base portion at right angles with respect thereto; and in use of the device and in order to locate the sighting rod in a vertical position, a leveling element is fixed to the base portion in alignment with the sighting rod. The leveling element, which may take the form of a bubble-level, is operable to locate the sighting rod in a plumb, vertical position, wherein the player, upon viewing the sighting rod which has been established in the vertical position by the bubble-level, can, upon aligning the sighting rod with a golf ball on the putting green, determine the line upon which the ball must be directed to the cup. The sighting rod also may be usable with opposed legs that are joined to the base as a divot repairer, upon forming of the outer ends of the sighting rod and opposed legs in a generally pointed end. The legs also cooperate with the sighting rod to form spaces through which the player sights the ball in obtaining the direction for moving the ball to the cup.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for aiding in the aligning of a putt on a golf putting green.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is held by a player in his hand so that upon sighting through the device in the direction of a ball on the putting green a line will be established on which the ball must be directed to the cup in the green.

Still another object is to provide a combination golf putting aid and divot repairer that aids a golfer in establishing a line for directing a ball to the cup in the puttinggreen, and further provides a means for repairing divots in the putting green. Still another object is to provide a golfing aid for aligning a putt on a putting green that includes a sighting rod that is locatable in a vertical position by the use ofa leveling device, wherein the location of the sighting rod in a vertical position as established by the leveling device will enable a player to determine an accurate line on which a ball must be directed to a cup on the green.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the combination golf putting aid and divot repairer embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of a golf putting aid and divot repairer, and

FIG. 5 is still a further modified form of the golf putting aid and divot repairer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, one form of device embodied in the invention is illustrated, and is generally indicated at 10. The device 10 is dimensioned to be carried in the pocket of a player and generally is of that size normally associated with the conventional divot repairer. As shown, the device 10 includes a base portion 12 that is normally grasped between the thumb and forefinger by the player and therefore is of a size to accommodate such handling. It is also contemplated that identifying indicia will be imprinted on a face of the base portion 12, and for this purpose the dimension thereof may be varied as required. The base portion 12 is formed of a relatively plate-like or flat material and may be constructed of a metallic, plastic or wood material, depending upon the economics required in the manufacture thereof.

Integrally joined to the base portion 12 at the side edges thereof and extending outwardly with respect thereto and being located in coplanar relation therewith are opposed legs 14 and 16. The legs 14 and 16 junction at the outer end thereof to define a relatively pointed end 18. Also joined to the base 12 and extending outwardly therefrom at right angles thereto and being located in coplanar relation with respect to the legs 14 and 16 and the base 12 is a sighting rod 20. The sighting rod 20 also junctions with the legs 14 and 16 at the outer ends thereof of form the end 18. As seen in FIG. 1, the sighting rod 20 is spaced from the legs 14 and 16 to define the openings 22 and 24, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

As more clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, a portion of the base portion 12 adjacent to the innermost end of the sighting rod 20 is formed with a depression 26, which is accomplished by either upsetting the metal if the device is formed of metal or by molding in the depression if the device is formed of plastic. In the event that the device is formed of metal, an outwardly extending projection 28 is formed on the side of the base 12 opposite to the depression 26. Fixed in the depression 26 by a suitable adhesive or the like is a leveling element 30 defined by a bubble-level of conventional construction such as is usually associated with a carpenters leveling tool. The bubble-level 30 is located centrally of the base portion 12 so that the horizontal midpoint of the bubble-level is located directly in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the sighting rod 20.

In use of the device as illustrated in FIGS. 1 3, and for the purpose of determining the line for directing a ball on a putting green to the cup therein, the player positions himself behind the ball and looks in the direction of the cup. The device is held in the hand of the player with the sighting rod located so that it bisects the ball. The player adjusts the position of the sighting rod until it is substantially vertical and confirms the vertical position of the sighting rod by observing the position of the bubble level. When the bubble level is located such that bubble therein is at the midpoint thereof, thereby indicating the plumb or vertical position of the sighting rod 20, the player looks through either space 22 or 24 in the direction of the cup. With the sighting rod bisecting the ball, the space between the sighting rod and the cup determines the direction or line on which the ball must be directed to the cup. It is understood that the player must locate the device 10 that distance away from his eyes so that the ball and the cup as seen through either space 22 or 24 will fall within either of these spaces as viewed.

In addition to utilizing the device 10 as a golf putting aid, as described, it is seen that the generally pointed end 18 may be utilized to repair divots or spike marks on the green as required.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a modified form of the invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 32. The device 32 is formed of flat stock of any suitable material and includes a base portion 34. Joined integrally to the base portion 34 are opposed legs 36 and 38 that terminate at the outermost ends thereof in generally pointed ends 40 and 42, respectively. Spaced between the legs 36 and 38 is a sighting rod 44 that defines spaces 46 and 48 the legs 36 and 38, respectively. A depression is formed in the base 34 in which a bubble-level 50 is positioned, the center point of the bubble-level 50 being located in alignment with the sighting rod 44.

In use of the device 32, the player positions the sighting rod 44 in a substantially vertical position when determining the line of the putt on the putting green, the bubble-level 50 being utilized to locate the sighting rod 44 in a plumb vertical position. The player determines the putting line by aligning the sighting rod 44 with the ball of the putting green and looking toward the cup in the green through either space 46 and 48. The pointed ends 40 and 42 of the legs 36 and 38, respectively, are utilized for repairing divots and spike marks in the green.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a further modified form of the golf putting aid and divot repairer is illustrated and is generally indicated at 52. The device 52 is formed of flat stock of a plastic, wood or metal material and includes a base 54 to which opposed legs 56'and 58 are integrally joined, the legs 56 and 58 extending outwardly at right angles from the base 54 and in generally parallel relation with respect to each other. Also joined to the base 54 and extending outwardly at right angles thereto is a sighting rod 60, the sighting rod being spaced between the legs 56 and 58 in parallel relation to define spaces 62 and 64. Fixed in depression formed in the base 54 and directly below the sighting rod 60 as seen in FIG. 5 is a bubble-level 66, the centermost point of which is located in alignment with the sighting rod 60. In use of the device 52 as an aid for aligning a putt, the sighting rod 60 is maneuvered to the plumb, vertical position thereof by adjusting the device until the bubble-level indicates the vertical position of the sighting rod. The player then aligns the sighting rod 60 with the ball on the putting green and looks either space 62 or 64 toward the hole or cup to determine the line on which the ball must be directed to the cup. It is understood that the outermost ends of the legs 56 and 58 and the sighting rod 60 may be utilized to repair divots or spike marks in the green.

In all forms of the invention as illustrated and described herein, the leveling element as fixed in the base portion of the putting aid is located with respect to the sighting rod such that positioning of the bubble in the leveling element locates the sighting rod in the plumb, vertical position. Thus, when the player holding the device looks through either of the spaces on either side of the sighting rod towardthe ball and the cup on the putting green, the direction or line for moving the ball to the cup is accurately determined.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for aligning a putt on a golf putting green, comprising a base portion of relatively flat stock, an elongated sighting rod integrally joined to said base portion in coplanar relation therewith and extending at right angles with respect thereto, said sighting rod normally projecting upwardly from said base portion when said device is in a position of use, a leveling element fixed to said base portion so as to be adjacent to the bottommost end of said sighting rod when said device is in the position of use, said leveling element being oriented with respect to said sighting rod in the position of use such that the midpoint of said leveling element is located in alignment with said sighting rod, and 0pposed legs joined to said base portion in spaced relation with respect to said sighting rod and located in coplanar relation with respect to said base portion and sighting rod, spaces being formed between said legs and sighting rod and defining sighting spaces, the outermost ends of said legs being sufficiently spaced outwardly from said base portion for cooperating therewith to form a tool that is usable to repair divot marks in said green.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said leveling element comprising a bubble level, wherein movement of said base portion to the position of use of the device lowith respect to said sighting rod, said legs and sighting rod terminating at the outer ends thereof in generally pointed ends that are usable to repair divots in said green.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, said legs extending outwardly in generally parallel relation beyond the outer end of said sighting rod, the outermost ends of said legs having generally pointed ends that provide for repairing divots in said green. 

1. A device for aligning a putt on a golf putting green, comprising a base portion of relatively flat stock, an elongated sighting rod integrally joined to said base portion in coplanar relation therewith and extending at right angles with respect thereto, said sighting rod normally projecting upwardly from said base portion when said device is in a position of use, a leveling element fixed to said base portion so as to be adjacent to the bottommost end of said sighting rod when said device is in the position of use, said leveling element being oriented with respect to said sighting rod in the position of use such that the midpoint of said leveling element is located in alignment with said sighting rod, and opposed legs joined to said base portion in spaced relation with respect to said sighting rod and located in coplanar relation with respect to said base portion and sighting rod, spaces being formed between said legs and sighting rod and defining sighting spaces, the outermost ends of said legs being sufficiently spaced outwardly from said base portion for cooperating therewith to form a tool that is usable to repair divot marks in said green.
 1. A device for aligning a putt on a golf putting green, comprising a base portion of relatively flat stock, an elongated sighting rod integrally joined to said base portion in coplanar relation therewith and extending at right angles with respect thereto, said sighting rod normally projecting upwardly from said base portion when said device is in a position of use, a leveling element fixed to said base portion so as to be adjacent to the bottommost end of said sighting rod when said device is in the position of use, said leveling element being oriented with respect to said sighting rod in the position of use such that the midpoint of said leveling element is located in alignment with said sighting rod, and opposed legs joined to said base portion in spaced relation with respect to said sighting rod and located in coplanar relation with respect to said base portion and sighting rod, spaces being formed between said legs and sighting rod and defining sighting spaces, the outermost ends of said legs being sufficiently spaced outwardly from said base portion for cooperating therewith to form a tool that is usable to repair divot marks in said green.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said leveling element comprising a bubble level, wherein movement of said base portion to the position of use of the device locates the bubble in said bubble-level in alignment with said sighting rod, thereby locating said sighting rod in a true vertical position.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, said legs being inclined toward the midpoint of said device and being joined to said sighting rod at the end thereof opposite to said base, the junction of said legs with said sighting rod defining a generally pointed end for repairing divots in said green.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, said legs extending outwardly from said base in generally parallel relation with respect to said sighting rod, said legs and sighting rod terminating at the outer ends thereof in generally pointed ends that are usable to repair divots in said green. 